Off to Philadelphia, PA for the July 23, 2019 No Filter ShowMood: celebratory

I'm packing my suitcase to travel to show #83 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA on July 23. I leave early tomorrow morning and hope to arrive by 3pm. I'm meeting my friends from Chicago, IL, Pensacola, FL and Falls Church, VA and we're sharing an Air BnB with my husband in South Philly a few miles from the stadium.

This (I think) will be my last show the No Filter Tour. Yes, I am only seeing two shows. I only saw two shows on the Zip Code Tour as well. The cost of travel, lodging and tickets prevents me from seeing the 10-15+ shows per tour like I did in the "old days". But you know what? I am perfectly ok with just two shows.

FedEx Field, although a logistocal nightmare and hotter than hell, was a fantastic show and we got the special treats of Mercy Mercy (not played live in 50 years) and Rocks Off. I was blessed by my dear friend Bolts and able to hang out backstage prior to the show and see my local friends The Ghost Hounds (Pittsburgh, PA) soundcheck. I also got to say "hi" to Keith and saws Ronnie, Sally and the twins, Theodora Richards, Rose Lane Leavell & Tim Ries. Chuck Leavell came into the VIP lounge later, but I didn't get a chance to say hello. I also saw Jane Rose and Bernard, but did not speak with them.

I'm excited about Philly, hoping the weather is not too hot-we're in the middle of a 100 degree heatwave currently and hope we don't get rained on. I'm ready for Stones adventure #83 and what it brings...see ya there!

I've been at opening night, I've been at closing night. This tour with the postponement and dates changes, it was not in the cards for me to attend the opening gigs in Chicago. I had a prior trip planned to Portland, Maine that I definitely enjoyed and I knew there would be thousands of first hand reports from opening night on Facebook. So even if people weren't there, with today's technology you can almost feel like your are there.

Everyone was holding there breath on June 21 thinking "How is Mick?", "Can he perform a 2 hour concert?", "Will he be lacking in any way?" And, in true Mick style, he was the best front man in rock n roll, just like he always was...no evidence that only a few short months ago he had heart surgery. You go Mick!

Then as with every show, people began to moan that Keith was too subdued, questioning if something was up with Charlie...but it made sense as my friend Isabel said that everyone in the band layed low opening night so as to let Mick SHINE and take the full spotlight, proving that he was A-OK. And he was. Because by night 2 in Chicago on June 25, all that banter died down and people commented that both Keith and Charlie were back to their ususal selves.

The band got great reviews for both shows and they changed things up on the second night. They are also doing acoustic numbers on the B stage, which is cool, since it's not been done in ages. In fact, I only remember them doing that at the Miami Pay Per View way back when.

I will leave July 2 to go to Washington, DC for my first show of the tour July 3 at FedEx Field in Landover, MD. This will be my 82nd lifetime Stones show. Then on July 23 I will be in Philly for show #83. Dunno if I'll ever hit the 100 mark...but ya never know. I can't afford to see as many shows as I used to in my 20's and 30's, and frankly, that's ok with me. I much prefer arenas to stadiums anyway, so why spend 1000's on stadiums? See you soon in the Keith Pit!

So, after we all jumped out of our skin upon hearing of Mick Jagger's health scare and then heart surgery, here we are a mere 4 days before the boy get back on the road with the rescheduled No Filter Tour at Soldier Field June 21 & 25 in Chicago, IL.

It was a total shock when the ENTIRE tour got postponed so suddenly, after rehearsals had already begun. And aren't the Stones lucky to receive Super Duper Pre-Tour Physicals that we mere mortals would never have received? Most of the things that Charlie, Ronnie and now Mick went through would have killed us mere mortals because they would not have been caught until it was too late. Thank God for Rock Star physicals for insurance purposes!

Anyway, here I sit on a (another) rainy Monday morning contemplating my first show of the No Filter Tour which is at FedEd Field in Landover, MD (Washington, DC metro) on July 3. My card has been charged the whopping $590 for a Pit ticket, and I shall find out on July 3 if I am indeed in the Pit and on Keith's side of the field.

It's been 4 years since I last saw the Rolling Stones. My last show was in Buffalo, NY on July 11, 2015. That was my 81st life time show. In the past I used to see the Stones upwards of 10 times per tour, but I just can afford it anymore. Nor have I had the funds to travel to Europe for shows, my last show abroad being London 2007. I am not retired, nor am I independently wealthy. And aside from that, I don't have the NEED to see the Stones as often as I used to, especially when we're talking stadiums over arenas and clubs. So for No Filter 2019 I plan on DC & Philly, with NJ on the back burner as a maybe, just maybe.

I sure hope we get some surprises in the set and that the Stones change up more than 1-2 songs per night. Will they? Who knows. I still enjoy every show, even if it's all war horses.

I have had almost all my Stones dreams come true. I've been blessed and fortunate that way thanks to various Stones personnel and Shelley Lazar God rest her rock n roll soul. I have met all the Stones at least once and met my hero Keith Richards several times during tours with hugs, handshakes or a kiss, not to mention twice privately in wardrobe (Las Vegas 2006) and in his dressing room (Pittsburgh 2015). I've been in the front row, backstage, met the Stones' family members, all more than I ever dreamed of. It's been a fantastic journey with my favorite rock n roll band...and here's to making more memories! See YOU ON TOUR this summer!!!

PS: For the most up to date info and news, please follow The Keith Shrine by Blue Lena on Twitter, Facebook (page & group).

So, here we are again. The Stones are back to Europe on their No Filter Tour to play 14 dates which they began in Dublin at Croke Park last night. And yes, once again I am NOT on tour with the Stones. It ain't like the old days kids. Believe me, I'd love to be there, if I could afford to go. I cannot. I resent the fact that because I saw so many show on prior tours that certain folks take it upon themselves to ask things such as "Aren't you a fan anymore?" Fuck you! Yes, I am a fan, but I don't have $500+ for one ticket, nor do I have $1200 for a flight, or $250 for a hotel a night and then of course there is food. I'd venture to guess that ONE single show on this current tour would run me upwards of $2500. And these are for massive stadiums. I have not gone to Europe for the Stones since 2007, and frankly, that probably is/was "The Last Time" traveling to Europe for me until perhaps after I retire.

And so, I wish all my friends who have the means and the time to travel to Europe this May and June for multiple shows all the best. But, really, I am not all that bummed to miss it. I had such great experiences with the Stones between 1994-2015 that I fulfilled a lot of my dreams and I don't need to fork out $2500 for one show anymore to get that Satisfaction. I got it. And if I never get it again I'll survive.

Having said that, I would love to see the Stones at LEAST one more time here in the USA. I'd love to see them again at MSG in NYC, where I haven't seen them since 1998. So if another show is in my cards I'll be there. I have seen the Stones 81 times in 4 different countries. I've met the band members are various times. I was twice to a Stones soundcheck. I've gotten my pictures taken with Keith Richards TWICE. I am Satisfied. Really I am. And yes, I am STILL a fan, not less of one.

So, the boys head to London next for 2 shows, then Southhampton, Coventry, Manchester, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Twickenham, Berlin, Marseille, Stuttgart, Prague and Warsaw. It's Only Rock n Roll, but I Still Like it...even if I am not there in person!

On May 9th the Rolling Stones announced their 13 date European #StonesNoFilter Tour. Tickets are already on sale and going fast! No, I won't be joining my friends in Europe this time around, but wish everyone a fabulous and safe journey this Fall.

Ronnie Wood announced just yesterday, May 24, that he successfully had a lesion removed from his lung and is all clear for the Fall tour. Phew!

Keith is selling his Manhattan apartment, it's been on the market for a while at over 12 million, with no takers. He only bought the apartment a few years ago. Now he & Patti are auctioning the contents of the apartment for charities that benefit adults with developmental disabilities in their home state of Connecticut.

As for me, my days of traveling abroad are most likely over and I'm OK with that. I have seen the Stones so far 82 times in 4 different countries, and I am grateful for that. I just don't have the funds to travel abroad anymore. I have spent the last 25 months worrying about the health and welfare of my aging parents and these days there are more important things on my plate than the Rolling Stones. I still love them dearly. And if anyone wants to finance my trip to Europe, I'm all for it

For those of you who aren't aware, Ian Hunter, is my all time favorite musician next to Keith. I hold him in the same esteem as Keith. And, he is also on tour currently and I can see him about 10 times for the price of one Stones show. I just saw him 4 times, with my 5th show coming up on June 2. If you ever were a Mott The Hoople or Ian fan, you MUST go see Ian Hunter and the Rant Band, also about to begin a month log jaunt to Europe beginning early June. Ian turns 78 on June 3 and is still rocking as hard as the Stones. If you're a Stones fan, I guarantee you will love Ian Hunter and his fabulous Rant Band!

I hope that everyone has begun to browse the new updates to The Keith Shrine web page. I added a News Page where you can check back daily for your dose of Keef news. The homepage will tell you when the News link has been updated.

I also created a 20th Anniversary Page to recount the creation of the Keith Shrine and how it evolved over these past 20 years. You will also find that if you check back, more and more greetings and anniversary wishes will be added from Stones fans and Rolling Stones personnel. Today I added a lovely photo from Keith's daughter, Angela, and her children Ava and Otto!

My friend, Andre, at Stones Planet Brazil featured The Keith Shrine on his radio show this past Monday June 27th and a link to download the show is available on the news page.

So far I have not commited to the Stones shows that have been announced, Desert Trip and Las Vegas. But, I am hoping to attend at least one or two shows in the fall if/when more dates are announced. I sure would love to see the Stones again at Madison Square Garden in NYC. The last (and only) time I saw them at MSG was in January 1998!

So, upon the invention of Facebook and my foray into the now popular world of social media back in 2007, it's been fairly obvious to fans and followers of the Rolling Stones and the Keith Shrine website that my webmaster duties had fallen by the wayside after the 50th Anniversary shows of 2012-2013.

Why? There is a Keith Shrine group and a Keith Shrine Page on Facebook. And boy, updating things there is SOOOOO much easier than doing HTML updates here on this old web page. I had been vowing to update The Keith Shrine web page since 2013...but ya know, procrastination is king. And, well, like I said, everything I would have posted here is right there on Facebook! If you wanna scroll back to 2007, on Facebook, I swear you'll be completely up to date with your Keith Richards news.

Not everyone, of course, is a member of Facebook...oh, did I mention The Keith Shrine is also on Twitter? But, again, maybe you are a die hard who just has refused to go the social media route and still sits in front of a desk top browsing the web for Stones news?

Ok, so, yesterday, I had an epiphany. Well, not really, but yesterday was the one year anniversary of the Rolling Stones playing my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA at Heinz Field and on that day I got to meet and hang out briefly with Keith (for the second time since 2006!). I also got a tour of all his guitars and a signed setlist from him that day. It was THE most amazing day ever, and I realized that there is NOTHING about that day on this web page. Sadly, yesterday on that one year anniversary, I was also attending the funeral of a Rolling Stones friend and fan, a dear, sweet lady named Harriet Bassler Argentiere.

And so, with all that in mind I decided to delve into opening the old Tripod/Lycos folders and updateing The Keith Shrine for 2016. After all, this year IS the 20th Anniversary of The Keith Shrine, Keith's longest running fan-based website since 1996!

So stay tuned for more Keith news, eventual updates of shows I attended 2012-15 and upcoming shows and news in 2016.

I hope everyone is reading or has already read Keith's autobioraphy "LIFE". If not, grab yourself a copy-QUICK! It's a great read and not just for Stones fans...to prove it, it's still #4 on the best sellers list as of today Feb. 22, 2011.

No Stones news as of late, except that we may not see a tour until perhaps 2012.

Keith will be in the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie with a second Captian Teague appearance-comes out May 2011.

Johnny Depp is doing a documentary on Keith too, which definitely sounds interesting.

Thanks to everyone who continues to support The Keith Shrine, now in it's 14th year!!!! xx Blue Lena

Hey all, it's been a while, but who knows 2010 could be a Stones tour year. Right now the Stones say it's not, but you never know, things could change and the band likes to keep everything under tight wraps until an official announcement date is set. So, I guess we can still keep our fingers crossed, afterall, the boys ain't getting any younger.

Thanks for your continued support of the Keith Shrine website! I appreciated all your visits, imput and emails in 2009!!!

Canadian Radio InterviewMood: a-ok
On Sunday August 5 at 3:50pm ET I will be interviewed live on the radio for the Roy Green Show in Canada. The topic "Keith Richards' Autobiography". Tune in at: www.940news.com